Dan - Great read. I'm sure the experience will contribute to your sucess on the next try. When I was there last Sept, I only have 5.5 days in the Valley so we ended up doing Half-Dome and the Prow on Washignton Column. The Nose would have been nice but I have an excuse (with the wife) to go back there again.

BTW, please don't dump the excess water out. Just leave it there, someone will use them.